Nail-extractor.



UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN J. MINNICH; or SALEM, OREGON.

NAIL-EXTRACTFOR.

This invention relates to an improved nail and tack hammer and the primary object of the invention, is. to provide an attachment for cooperating-withthe claws of the hammer whereby a rusty or slippery nail may be withdrawn from theplace in which it is embedded without employing the common expedient of a block for raising the hammer as is done with the hammers now generally in use. I

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a. pivot pawl adapted to grip the shank of the nail and to cooperate with one of the claws of the hammer for withdrawing the nail thereby. facilitating the extraction of a headless nail or a nail of unusual length.

As a' further object of. the invention the.

device is provided with a pivot pawl, the pivotal movement of which is limited so that the gripping edge of the pawl is restricted in its movement for obviating the possibility of severingthe shank ofthe nail.

A further object-of this invention, is the provision of'a nail and tack hammer which consists of. comparatively few partsand is,

simple inconstruction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character arev ordinarily" subjected.

For a full Fig.6 is a fragmentary sectionon the line 66, of Fig, 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

description of the invention and the advantagesandmerits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, where PatentedMay 22, 1917'.

Application filed August 11, 1916. Serial No. 114,425..

The hammer is provided with the usual handle 1 having one end secured 'in the socket 2 which forms a part of thehammer head. 1 The striking end 3 of the hammer 1 extends from one side of the hammer head and the claws 4 and 5 project over the opposite side and arecurved as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the claw 5 is of a greater thickness with a horizontally extending groove 6 which is substantially circularin transverse section, and the groove-communicates with the space 7 between the claws 4 and 5. Mounted within the roove is the cylindrical bolt 8 the end 9 of which is beveled and curved to conform to the curvature of the claw'5. The opposite end of the bolt is reduced in, diameter to provide the trunnion 10 which is received in the recess 11 formed in thehammer head and in horizontal alinement with the groove 6. 'Adjacent the end of the trunnionjis an annular, groove 12 which receivesone end of a retainingpin 13 which-extends through the side of the hammer head and preventsthe displacement of the bolt 8 and permits the same to freely rotate when desired. 7 e

As shown by Figs. 4 and, 5 of the drawing thetrunnion 10- is provided with a segmental cut-out portion or recess 14 which receives one end of a limiting pin 15 which limits the rotary movement'of the bolt when the side walls of the recess contact with the pin 15. Integrally formed with the bolt 8" is the gripping pawl 16 which is provided with the sharpened edge 17 for contacting and biting into the shank of the nail when.

the device is in operation.

' than the claw' 4. The claw 5 is provided 7 shown byFig. 1 of the drawing so thatthe nail projects through the space 7 between the claws a and 5. Then, by throwing the pawl. 16 over into engagement with the shank of the nail, the nail may be withdrawn by pulling upon the hammer handle in the usual manner. The sharpened edge of the gripping pawl 16 will bite into the shank of the nail sufficiently to allow the extraction thereof but the limited rotary movement of the pawl, caused by the limiting pin15, will prevent the pawl from cutting through the shank of the nail. If the nail is not fully extracted after the.limited leverage of the hammer handle has been exhaust ed, the hammer may be moved back to the original position for causing the pawl to grip the shank of the nail at a point farther down so that the remainder of the nail may be extracted.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable nail and tack hammer has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. I de sire it to be understood however, that slight changes in the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim:

1. A nail extractor comprising a hammer having a pair of curved claws, one of the claws provided with a groove disposed at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the hammer socket whereby the groove will be disposed in a horizontal plane when the hammer is set in operative position for extracting a nail, and gripping means rotatably mounted within the groove and adapted to grip a nail independently of the corre sponding claw, the said means including a gripping pawl adapted to extend over the space between the said claws and provided with a longitudinally sharpened edge.

2. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a socket and a pair of claws, one of the claws having a groove disposed at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the hammer-socket and commimicating with the space between the said claws, a cylinder rotatably mounted in the groove, and gripping means carried by the cylinder and adapted to grip a nail independently of the adjacent corresponding claw.

3. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a pair of claws, one of said claws being of a greater thickness than the other claw, the said thicker claw being provided with a groove extending toward the main portion of the hammer head and communicating with the space between the said claws, a cylindrical bolt mounted in the groove for rotary movement, gripping means carried by the bolt, and means for limiting the rotary movement of said bolt.

4. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a pair of claws, one of said claws being "of a greater thickness than the other claw, the said thicker claw being provided with a groove extending toward the main portion of the hammer head and communicating with the space between the said claws, a cylindrical bolt mounted in the groove for rotary movement, gripping means carried by the bolt, one end of the said bolt being reduced in diameter to provide a trunnion, the said hammer head having a recess in alinement with the said groove for receiving the said trunnion, and means for preventing the displacement of the trunnion from said recess.

5. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a pair of claws, one of said claws being of a greater thickness than the other claw, the said thicker claws being provided with a groove extending toward the main portion of the hammer head and communicating with the space between the said claws, a cylindrical bolt mounted in the groove for rotary movement, gripping means carried by the bolt, one end of the said bolt being reduced in diameter to provide a trunnion, the said hammer head having a recess in alinement with the said groove for receiving the said trunnion, the said hammer head having an aperture extending at right angles to and communicating with the said recess, a retaining pin extending through the aperture and cooperating with the said trunnion, the said trunnion having an annular groove for preventing the displacement of the trunnion from said recess.

6. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a pair of claws, one of said claws being of a greater thickness than the other claw, the said-thicker claw being provided with a groove extending toward the main portion of the hammer head and communicating with the space between the said claws, a cylindrical bolt mounted in the groove for rotary movement, gripping means carried by the bolt, one end of the said bolt being reduced in diameter to provide a trunnion, the said hammer head having a recess in alinement with the said groove for receiving the said trunnion, the said hammer head having an aperture extending at right angles to and communicating with the said recess, a retaining pin extending through the aperture and cooperating with the said trunnion, the said trunnion having an annular groove for preventing the displacement of the trunnion from said recess, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the said bolt including a limiting pin carried by the hammer head and engaging said trunnion.

7. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a pair of claws, a cylindrical bolt carried by one of the said claws and adapted for rotary movement, gripping means carried by the bolt, a trunnion carried by the bolt, the said trunnion being provided with an annular groove, and a retaining pin carried by the hammer head and adapted to cooperate with the said groove for preventing the displacement of the said bolt.

8. A nail extractor including a hammer head provided with a recess and a pair of claws, one of the said claws having a groove, gripping means mounted within the said groove and including a, trunnion projected In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature into the said recess, and means carried by in presence of two Witnesses.

the hammer head and adapted to cooperate With the said trunnion for limiting the J H' pivotal movement of the. gripping means Witnesses: I

and preventing the displacement thereof ERNEST BLUE,

from the said groove. MARE Porrn.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents;

Washington, D. 0. 

